The Tale of Rabbi Nachman: Switched at Birth
There is an age-old question, “Are you who you are because of how you were raised, or is it something else? Soul? Destiny? Genetics?” Philosophers call it the “nature-nurture” question. There are lots of theories to answer the question, but really there’s only one way to find out! Switch the babies at birth and see what happens! That’s what the midwife does in Rebbe Nachman’s story The Sons Who Were Switched, and so the queen’s son and the servant’s son are switched, to see what will happen. And a lot happens! These two boys’ lives are bound together by the question, and the process of discovery is challenging and fruitful. Along the way, the reader gets to explore questions about who they think they are and who they really are, and why it matters for a world that needs fixing.
Rabbi Gavriel Goldfeder
Rabbi Gavriel Goldfeder currently teaches Jewish studies to high-schoolers at Gann Academy outside of Boston. His work with teens also includes an incredible group of private students, both pre- and post-bar mitzvah. His focus on the experiences of Jewish teens and what our tradition can offer them literally keeps him up at night and is the overall focus of his career and lifestyle. Before Gann he worked at MIT Hillel, and before that he was a pulpit rabbi in Boulder, Colorado. He also runs a small independent Jewish publishing house and maintains a rigorous writing schedule. He has not let go of his dream of being a rock star.
Meet the Instructor
Tikvah aims to make all of our courses available to as many qualified students as possible. In the event that Tikvah needs to add additional sections, this course may be taught by a different faculty member with a similarly high level of expertise.
